That’s a problem with a lot of airport terminals designed in the 1960s before security checkpoints were a thing. They didn’t bother to put many amenities in the concourses like restaurants or lots of seating back then because it was assumed you could just go to the main lobby for those things. The gate area was just supposed to be a walkway to get you to the plane, not a place where people were expected to spend a lot of time. This is evident in the older terminals in Houston and Newark as well, or at least was; it’s been a while since I’ve connected through either of those.
Although I understand MCI is by far worse than other airports from that era because they were trying to design it to minimize the walking distance from the curb to the gates, which made it nearly impossible to adapt the terminals when they had to add security checkpoints. As I understand it this was a problem with the old flying saucer shaped Pan Am terminal at JFK as well, which has now been demolished.
In California, Long Beach does that in addition to Burbank. And some airports in Hawaii. I know Kona does, on the Big Island.
Yeah, but I hear the carpet isn’t as nice as it used to be.
I used to be a friend’s go-to ride for pickups and dropoffs at Logan. If there was time when I was dropping her off, I’d park and we’d grab a snack in the terminal. Then I’d take a circuitous route back to my car. I got to know my way around it pretty well, and took some awesome pictures, too. I’m pretty sure the hall with the movie posters is still there.
I know the back roads; I’ll have you there in 20 minutes.
I fly a lot out of Logan. I would guess that if it’s new to someone they would be confused by it, but I have really come to love it. I love that terminal B has its own parking garage, I love that terminal E is so massive and comfortable, and (now that I know my way around) I love how easy it is to get in and out of.
This. There are tons of ways to get there.
I also like the airport in Dubai, with its ridiculous Emirates lounge, and its roominess.
Long Beach (LGB) is a hoot. They have something like four gates, baggage claim might as well be “just hang around on the tarmac and wait for them to unload the plane” and security lines are so quick there’s almost no need to bother with PreCheck. My only gripe is minor - the car rental operations are so small, they don’t do the normal Hertz Gold thing where you see your name on the board, go to the space listed, get in the car, and drive off.
Further north in the Bay Area, San Jose (SJC) can be either horrid or a fun and efficient throwback. Last time I was there, we boarded via air stairs instead of a jetway.
Someone likes MSP? OMG! Ugh! I used to be far too familiar with MSP thanks to work. The only good thing about the sheer size of the place was that you didn’t have to wait much longer for bags to show up. One of the worst trips I ever had was an interline change there. Came in on one airline, waited for bags to show up, went back upstairs to check in on a different airline, then make like OJ Simpson to get through security and to the FAR end of whatever terminal.
Favorite is Burbank. It was 5 min from my house, it took 10 min to get to your gate, and they let you on and off of the planes from both the front and the back! Let all the suckers race to the front of the line to fill in the front seats. Get off at your leisure just as quick from the back. And best of all, IT’S NOT LAX!
Least favorite besides LAX is CMH (Columbus oh). Mostly because I bartended at the max and erma’s there (all around, really; the same company owns all the food/bars). And it was horribly managed. The problem was that everytime management did so something atrocious and you stormed out, you had to sit at the employee shuttle waiting area. Which gave the manager time to come talk you out of it. I quit 4 or 5 times before it took. This was all last century, so no clue what it’s like now.
I’d agree that Changi has to be the most pleasant airport I’ve been through recently. I loved their Enchanted Garden. But it seems that they recently opened an even more spectacular display.
In the US, I find Atlanta the most tolerable among major airports I visit regularly, but that’s not saying much.
One reason: a large, knowledgeably-staffed, indie USED BOOKSTORE!
What a perfect place for one.
(What’s surprising is that it’s beautiful and clean and organized, but before that they were in a cluttered old furniture warehouse that the Times said was “like a book collector’s attic, with boxes of used books lining the floor… easy to get lost among the mazelike shelves.”)
I once had an Expedia guy on the phone and he was trying to find our family flights and hotel in Florida. He said “I think I’ve found you a week in Puerto Vallarta for the same price. Do you mind flying out of, I have no idea where this city is, Milwaukee?” Of course I had to mention the bookstore…
Oh, and they also have a big sign after getting through security that proclaims “Recombobulation Area”.
I don’t think it even worked pre-9/11. It was designed for no security at all, but had the misfortune to open just before that became mandatory in the 1970s. TWA (which designed it) demanded that the whole thing be rebuilt, the city refused, and TWA moved to St. Louis.
Until recently, I flew 2-3 times per week out of Flying Oaks west of DFW (forward to the 3:20 mark).
Taught a lot of students there, some are flying big iron for Delta/United/etc. now. Great place to learn stick and rudder (and short field) skills, and since it’s tucked under the DFW Class B they get plenty of experience dealing with ATC and busy airspace too. One of my favorite flights is to have them file IFR to Love Field, then get their clearance over the phone, then show they can blend into the system and get into the conga-line of Southwest 737s and land there. It’s a neat study in contrasts, quiet grass strip to super busy international airport.
Still my favorite airport of all time. There’s a cool winery just down the (dirt) road and you can usually bum a ride to it. Sometimes the owners throw a bbq party on weekends.
I agree, and not just because I live here and have flown out of it a gillion times. Mitchell is an absolute breeze get through even during holidays and such. It is super clean and well organized.
Second place: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Super smooth in and out. Been there many, many times.
Not a major commuter hub to be sure but immediately before and after each flight (as many as four per day are scheduled) the terminal manager drives up and down the runway discharging a shot gun to scare away any kangaroos in the precinct.
You’d think they’d become desensitized to it, making the practice ineffective. Frankfurt Airport had this problem when using air cannons to scare away large birds. They solved the problem by homing four foxes around the airfield, who prey on the mice and other animals that otherwise attract birds of prey.
I just remember having to fly in and out of there several times in a month or so about a decade ago.
It was miserable. Each gate had its own security. So I went in, waited around, decided I wanted some coffee and a snack. So I went out, and went to the Starbucks right across from the gate.
Go back through the same security gates with the SAME people as the first time 25 minutes before… and one of maybe 40 or so people hanging out at that gate.
TSA clown made me put my coffee and scone through the metal detector. I pointed out that I had been there 25 minutes before, and bought my coffee right there, 20 feet away, where he could freaking SEE me buy it.
But no, Mr. TSA-Petty-Tyrant made me go through the whole shebang again. Then later, after going and peeing, the WHOLE thing again.
It’s absurd, and a total PITA, especially when you have to take off your shoes and belt every time, and x-raying the scone and coffee that I bought 20 feet outside of security was beyond idiotic.
T.F. Green (PVD) in Providence, RI. Small, easy to navigate, and the lines for regular security are often as short (or non-existent) as the TSA Pre-Check lines. It’s served by Southwest, and we fly SWA whenever we can.
It’s also the closest airport to our grandkids, which is clearly the best thing about it.
The only downside is that it’s a very long walk to the rental car center. Probably not that much longer than in many other airports, but it feels longer because the airport is so small.
I have no opinion on this, but I had to post to say that I read the thread title as “God’s favorite airport” and I was, as you might expect, perplexed.
But in the spirit of the thread, I like BWI because it means I’m either going somewhere or coming home.
The alternative is pretty much EVERY other airport- DFW Airport, Dallas Love and Houston Hobby come to mind as obvious examples.
You come in from the outside, and there’s the baggage claims, airport offices, and ticket counters and bathrooms along with a VERY minimal set of vendors- IIRC, there’s maybe a single snack/coffee shop.
Huge security concourse. Once through, you walk to where the gates are, and there’s all sorts of stuff- bookstores, travel-stuff stores, souvenir shops, fast food, sit-down food, bars, etc… all within the security checkpoint. Oh, more bathrooms in there too.
Basically it’s the reverse of MCI- everything worthwhile outside of tickets and baggage claim is INSIDE security, not the other way around.
